Selling control system and machine therefor



A ril 1 6, 1946. H. H. STOCKFELD 2,398,677

SELLING CONTROL SYSTEM AND MACHINE THEREFOR 1119a May 6, 1940 sSheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1946. H. H. ST'OCKFELD SELLING CONTROL SYSTEMAND MACHINE THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/arr 15.

April 16, 1946. H. H. STOCKFELD I 5 85 SELLING CONTROL SYSTEM ANDMACHINE THEREFOR 7 Filed May 6, 1940 z Sheets-Sheet s I I iglilmllllmqlWlllllllllllllllllillllliliIll 1 I 0 rfllk iIIHHHIIIIIIIIINIIIlilllllllllllllliilmhl w Patented Apr. 16, 1946SELLING CONTROL SYSTEM AND MACHINE THEREFOR Harry H. Stockfeld, NewYork, N. Y.

Application May 6, 1940, Serial No. 333,668

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improved selling control systems and moreparticularly to improved electrically operated and controlled sellingdevices or machines for simultaneously carrying on selling activities ofvendibles at an unlimited number of selling stations separated byvarious geographical distances and to provide facilities for producers,manufacturers and shippers to sell theirproducts and for buyers tobuythem in a competitive system of selling. The selling control system isadapted to facilitate the selling of goods, commodities and products ofthe land generally marketed in commerce and owing to the expeditiousmanner with which sales can be consummated, the system is especiallyadapted to facilitate the sale of foodstuffs and particularly foodstuffsof a perishable nature such as fresh fruit and vegetables.

More particularly, the invention relates'to a selling control systemcomprising an electrical network provided with a plurality of receivingand transmitting stations which may be located at remote distances. Theimproved selling control system further relates to a selling device ormachine operated in conjunction with a plurality of similar sellingmachines, .all of which are connected to an electrical network forsimultaneous operation. Each of said selling machines'is provided withmechanical means whereby characters can be transmitted, received andrecorded for the purpose of communicating information between theselling machines connected to the electrical network.

While it is contemplated that various means of conveying information maybe utilized asan integral part of the selling control system, it hasbeen found that printing telegraph systems are particularly suitable. Insystems of this character it is usual to employ at the transmittingstation a keyboard transmitter which when a definite character key isdepressed sends out a combination of electrical impulses which aretransmitted to the receiving stations where the selecting mechanism of aprinting unit selects the particular type bar on which the desiredprinting character is mounted. The selected type bar is then moved toform an impression on the tape and the tape is then fed forward to allowanother character to be operated and impressed in the same manner untilthe desired information is recorded. A plurality of printing unitslocated at remote points may be simultaneously operated on the sellingsystem including a printer at the transmitting station which'makes' arecord for the transmitting'station. The keyboard transmitter andprinting unit at each station may constitute separate units althoughthey are usually combined into a single machine operated by a commonmotor. Each of the transmitting'and receiving stations connected intheselling control system has an improved selling device or machine whichcomprises an indicating means and a timing device, said machine beingassociated with the printing device and is actuated in accordance withthe operation of the printing unit.

Heretofore the lack of timely knowledge on the part of buyers andshippers concerning the amount, type and condition of perishable produceavailable for marketing and the points of origin from which such produceis available and the lack of timely knowledge on the part of producersconcerning the condition of geographically remote markets have resultedin high distribution "costs due to the wasteful glutting of individualselling markets which in turn militates against able products.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to providea selling control system comprising a plurality of selling machines foreliminating losses and facilitating widespread and 5 rapid sale anddistribution which is suitable for transmitting and receiving timelyinformation between producing and selling points such as would benecessary to enable sales to be negotiated by competitive biddingbetween a plurality of buyers who may be located at points remote fromeach other. v p

Another object of this invention is to provide a selling control systemcomprising a plurality of selling machines for simultaneouslyreproducing data'at a plurality of geographically remote stationsconcerning the amount, kind, size, standard grade, brand, method ofpacking and condition of perishable foodstuffs at the point of origin orpackaging of the perishable produce and concerning the progress ofcompetitive bidding for these goods among groups of buyers located atthe different geographically remote stations.

Another object of this invention. is to provide a. selling controlsystem comprising an electrical network having a plurality of stationslocated remotely from each other, each of which is equipped with atransmitting and receiving unit and an interrelated selling device ormachine comprising an indicating means and a timing device forfacilitating competitive purchasing of merchandise.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved sellingmachine for indicating the amount and sequence of bids received duringan auction and also for indicating the duration of bidding and thetermination of the competitive bidding.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved circuitarrangement for a selling machine wherein indicating means and-a timingdevice located at each of a plurality of selling control stations in anelectrical network having a transmitting and receiving unit at eachstation are controlled by the operation of the transmitting andreceiving unit located at any one of the stations.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved controlcircuit for the indicating means and a timing device whereby they areoperated in response to a sequence of relay operations initiated by aprinting or recording unit connected to an electrical network.-

A further object of this invention is to provide an improvedtimingdevice which may be automatically started, stopped and reset to startingposition by operation of an electrical circuit.

This invention relates to the improved system, apparatus, novel featuresofv construction and combination of parts which are hereafter shown anddescribed by way of example in the preferred form but other objects,features and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a wiring diagram of the selling control system disclosing aplurality. of stations and the operating units of a single station andselling machine;

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram of the control circuit for the. indicatingmeans and timing deviceof a selling machine;

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation of the timing device; and.

Figure 4 is a front view of a detailed section of the timing device.

As shown in Figure 1, the selling control system comprises a pluralityof stations each of which is provided witha selling machine. Thestations are designated by reference numerals [0, ll, l2 and I3 and areshown interconnected by an electrical networkindicated by referencenumeral l4. As has previously been indicated, the electrical network ispreferably of the printing telegraph type although other types ofsystems may be employed. Each of the stations I0, II, I2 and I 3 haveassociated therewith a transmitting and receiving device and a sellingmachine comprising means for visually reproducing information receivedover the network. The station units are shown schematically in Figure 1in conjunction with station I2 although it will be understood that allof the stations associated with the network are similarly equipped. Inthis figure the reference numeral [5 designates the transmitting andreceiving device in which transmitting contacts l6 and the magnet I!represent in the usual form a teletypewriter installation. The printingunitof device I5 is adapted to translate the impulses received over thenetwork l4 and by operation of the conventional selecting mechanism, aseries of characters is recorded in ink or other opaque medium upon atape IS. The tape which is of transparent or semi-transparent characteris fed in a known manner from the supply-roll I9 beneath the printingcharacters and is wound upon a take-up roll 20 which is rotated by amotor 2| of any suitable type.

Intermediate the printing position Where the characters are recorded inthe printer and the take-up roll, the transparent tape passes across theaperture 22 of a projection device 23. The rays of a light source 24 arereflected through a condenser lens system and then pass through theaperture and exposed section of the transparent tape I8 which overliesthe aperture. The opaque images on the tape through which the lightpasses are focussed upon a screen 3| located in panel by a focussingobjective 25. It will be understood that the images from the tape areprojected in known manner and preferably the light rays impinge upon therear of the screen 3| which may be formed of ground glass. In order toobtain the rear projection, the projector may be located behind thescreen so that the light rays will normally impinge. upon the screen, orturning devices such asreflectors and prisms may be used when the.projection is not located normal with the screen. It is contemplatedthat any projecting system may be en1- ployed which will project thetape characters onto the screen 3| so that they may be read in erectedmanner from left to right when the panel 30 is viewed from the front.

An indicating means is denoted by reference numeral 29 and includes thepanel 30 in which the screen 3| is positioned as shown in Figure l. Ahand or pointer 32 is mounted upon a timer shaft33 for movement acrossthe face of panel 30 and is adapted to rotate in a clockwise directionover a dial which is provided with indicia 34;, In the present instancethe dial has been divided into ten divisions representing seconds oftime although other indicia and time quantities. may be employed. Alimit switch actuating bar 35 is adjustably mounted on the timer shaft33, and rotates with the pointer 32. As shown inFigure '3, the limitswitch. actuating bar 35 is mounted'in front of the panel 30 although itis contemplated that the bar may be mounted on timer shaft 33 behindthe: panel if it is found desirable. A limit'switch 36 is mounted behindthe panel 30 and, as shown in Figure 3, an actuating stud 31 passingthrough an opening 38 in the panel 30 is operated by a cam surface 39positioned on the limit switch actuating bar 35 when the hand is rotatedinto a predetermined position to operate the limit switch as will behereinafter-more fully explained.

Asindicated inFigurel, a lamp 4!! is positioned behind the panel 30 sothat when the lamp is energizedthe rays will pass through a transparentor translucent member 4 I. set in an opening in the panel. The word Bid"is placed in letters upon the member 4| to be. clearly readable when thelamp 40 is lighted. Similarly, a lamp. is placed behind a transparentoutranslucent member 43 bearing the term fSold and mounted in anotherportion of the panel 30. 'A single stroke bell or gong 44 is alsoassociated with the indicatin means Hand is adapted to be operated by anenergizingcoil 45 shown in Figure 1.

A timing device for controlling operation of the indicating means 29 isrepresented by reference numeral-in Figure l: and. is shown in greaterdetail in Figures 3 and 4. The timing device comprises a self-startingsynchronous motor 5| having a stator 52 and a rotor 53 mounted on ashaft 5]. The coil 54 which is mounted upon the stator is energizedthrough conductors 55 and 56. A pinion 58 is securely mounted upon shaft51 to engage and serve as a driving element for gear wheel 59 which issecurely mounted adjacent one end of shaft 60. The opposite end of shaft60 is splined as represented by 6| into a driving clutch member 62.Driving clutch member 62 is provided with a clutch face 63 which isadapted to have frictional contact with a clutch face 64 of a drivenclutch member 65. Driving clutch member 62 is thus axially slidablewithin limits on shaft 60 by virtue of its splined connection with theshaft and is maintained in frictional contact with the driven clutchmember 65 by action of a spring 66 which is maintained under compressionby pin 6'! and washer 68.

Driven clutch member 65 is securely mounted adjacent the end of shaft 69which rotates with member 65. The opposite end of shaft 69 is splined asrepresented by ID into a driving clutch member II having a clutch face12 which is adapted to have frictional contact with a clutch face I3 ofa driven clutch member 14. Due to the spline connection the drivingclutch member II is also axially slidable within limits on the shaft 69and is maintained in frictional contact with the driven clutch member 14by the bias of a spring which is maintained under compression by a pin16 and Washer TI. The driven clutch member 14 is securely mounted on oneend of timer shaft 33 which is journaled at 18 in an aperture in thepanel 30. The portion of timer shaft 33 which extends through panelcarries the pointer 32 and the limit switch actuating bar as haspreviously been described. The limit switch actuating bar 35 is securedto a collar I9 which is adjustably mounted on the timer shaft 33 andthen tightened in adjusted position by set screw 80 and locked into theadjusted position by locking nut 8|. The pointer 32 may also beadjustably mounted on the shaft 33 to efiect zero or initial setting ofthe pointer with respect to the dial and then looked in the adjustedposition by a set screw 88. V i The controls for the timing devicecomprise an electrically actuated stop and start mechanism and anelectrically controlled resetting mechanism for returning the pointer 32to its initial or starting position which for purposes of illustrationmay be considered a the point corresponding to the dial numeral I8. Thestopping and starting mechanism comprises a brake member 82 which may bemoved in and out of contact with the periphery of driven clutch member65 as shown in Figure 3. The periphery of member '65 may be knurled orotherwise roughened as indicated by 83 to insure instantaneous action ofthe brake 82 in stoppin the rotation of driven clutch member '65 when itis brought in contact therewith. The brake 82 is mounted upon a leverarm 84 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin85 located on asuitably fixed support (not shown). The lever arm Handbrake 82 move asan integral unit and a tension spring 86 is provided to bias thebrake 82into its braking condition in contact with the knurling 83 on theperiphery of driven clutch member 65. Movementof the brake iselectrically controlled by an electromagnetic device comprising asolenoid 81 which is energized through conductors I52 and I53 as will belater explained.

A plunger 88 is positioned within the solenoid 81 and is mechanicallyconnected to the lever arm 84 through a pivotal connection 9|. Uponenergization of the solenoid 81, the plunger 98 is pulled upwardly byvirtue of the flux set up in the solenoid and causes the lever 84 andbrake 82 to be moved upwardly against the action of spring 86, thusreleasing the driven clutch member 65 so that it may be rotated by thesynchronous motor 5| through the driving clutch member 62 and effectrotation of the pointer 32. Upon deenergizing the solenoid 81, however,spring 86 causes the brake 82 to engage the periphery of the drivenclutch member 65 thus resulting in stopping the driven clutch member 65and preventing further rotation of the pointer 32 by the motor 5|.

The resetting mechanism for the hand 32 comprises a heart shaped cam 92securely mounted on the timer shaft 33. A cam contacting roller 93 ismounted for. rotation upon a pin 94 which is secured to one end of alever arm 95. The opposite end of the lever arm is pivotally connectedby a pin 91 to a fixedsupport 96. The cam contacting roller 93 isaligned so that it may be rotated about the pivot 91 of lever arm 95 tomake contact with the periphery of cam 92. Movement of the roller 93towards timer shaft 33 will cause the heart shaped cam 92 to be rotatedtogether with shaft 33 and pointer 32 until the minimum radius point 98of the cam 92 i in contactwith the roller 93. The timer shaft 33 and theheartshaped cam 92can be rotated by the resetting mechanism due to theslippage between the driving clutch member H and the driven clutchmember 14. The relatively angular positioning of the pointer 32 and cam92 on the timer shaft 32 is such that when roller 93 engage the minimumradius point 98 of the cam 92, the hand 32 will be at the desiredinitial or starting position relative to the indicating dial on thepanel 38 as shown in Figure 4; Thus after each operation of theresetting mechanism the pointer 32 has been returned to a predeterminedstarting position with respect to the indicating dial.

It will-be understood that engagement of the cam contacting roller 93with the periphery of the cam 92 causes the hand 32 to be returned toits starting position by either clockwise or counterclockwise rotationdepending upon the section of the cam which is first engaged bytheroller. For example, if roller 93 first engages section 99 of the cam,the pointer will be returned to its starting position by clockwiserotation and if section I88 is first engaged, the pointer willbereturned by rotation in a counter-clockwise direction.

It is likewise clear that the operations of the two clutches areindependent of each other and thus the pointer 32 may be started andstopped with or without concurrent or subsequent functioning of theresetting device. Also, if found de sirable, the resetting device may beoperated without deenergizing the solenoid 81, in which case the pointer32 will be returned to the starting point but will immediately resumeits travel as soon as the solenoid IIII is dee ergized.

The motive power for rotating lever arm 95 about its pivotal connection91 to effect resetting of the pointer 32 is supplied by a solenoid IOIwhich is energized through conductors I42 and I51. A plunger I04 ispositioned within the solenoid and is connected to the lever arm by amechanical linkage comprising pivotally con nected lever arms I and I06.Lever arm IE5 is connected to stud I01 which is secured to one end ofthe plunger, I04. Lever arm I05 is pivotally connected to one end ofapin I08 which has the other end secured to lever arm 95 intermediatethe pivotal connection 91 and the pin 94. A tension spring I99 serves tomaintain the resetting mechanism in the position shown in Figure 4 whenthe solenoid i deenergized. When the solenoid is energized, plunger I04is drawn into the coil and by virtu of the mechanical linkage, the leverarm 95 is rotated about pin 91 to cause the roller 93 to make contactwith the periphery of the cam 92 regardless of its position. Continuedmovement of the resetting levers will cause the cam and timer shaft 33to rotate as explained above until the roller 93 is positioned at theminimum radius part of the cam which will result in thecam and thepointer 32 being positioned as shown in Figure 4.

As above described, a limit switch 36 is mounted on the indicator 29 andas shown in Figure 3 comprises a contact I I0 mounted on the end of acontact arm II2 which is fixed to a support II4 of insulating materiallocated on the rear side of the panel 30. A contact III is mounted upona flexible contact arm II3 which is spaced from contact arm II2 byinsulating spacer I! 5. Normally the contacts III] and III are incontact to close a circuit between conductors I48 and I49. The contactsIIOI II are opened by the actuating stud 31 which is mounted on the endof contact arm H3 and, as described above, passes through an opening 38in the panel into the path of movement of the limit switch actuating barmounted on the timer haft 33. Thus when the limit switch actuating bar35 is rotated through a predetermined angle by the timer shaft 33 thecam surface 39 of the bar 35 engages the end of the actuating stud 31and, causes it to move rearwardly to effect separation of the contactsIII! and III and open the circuit between conductors I48 and I49. Itwill be understood that the limit switch actuating bar 35 is adjustableon shaft 33 o that the limit switch will be set to open when the pointer32 reaches any predetermined point in its rotation. Such an adjustmentis shown in Figure 4 in which the full lines show one position of thelimit switch actuating bar 35 when the pointer 32 is at its startingposition and the dotted lines show the position of the pointer 32 whenthe cam surface 39 of th bar 35 has reached the position to open thecontacts I I 0 and I I I.

The indicating mean 29 and the timing device are actuated in response tothe operation of the subscribers teletypewriter printer by means of acontrol circuit energized from a local source of alternating currentrepresented by .Tn---L2 of Figure 2. The control circuit comprisescontactors I20 and I2I and relays I22, I23, I24 and I25.

The contactors I20 and I2I are associated with the mechanism of theteletypewriter device I5 as diagrammatically shown in Figure 1 and arepositioned in a manner well known in the art to be momentarily closedwhen predetermined type bars of the teletypewriter printer are operatedby the selecting mechanism to print a character upon the tape. Asexemplary of the association it may be considered that the contactor I20is arranged so that the switch will be momentarily closed when the/typebar is operated on which the printing character comma is mounted.

In a similar manner the contactor I2I may be considered as arranged sothat it will be momentarily closed when the type bar is operated uponwhich the printing character period is mounted. However, it will beunderstood that the con tactors I20 and I2I may be arranged to beoperated in response to the actuation of any of the other type bars onthe teletypewriter printer.

Relay I22 is provided with two banks of contacts I26 and I21 which arebridged upon energizing of an electromagnetic device I28. Relay I23 isprovided with three banks of contacts I29, I30 and I3I which arenormally open and a contact bank I32 which is normally bridged when anelectromagnetic device I33 is deenergized. Relay I25 comprises arectifier I34 and an adjustable electromagnetic device I 35 providedwith a normally open contact bank I36 and a normally closed bank ofcontacts I31. The electromagnetic device I35 operates instantly uponenergization but upon deenergization a predetermined time intervalelapses before operation of the device. The time interval elapsingbetween deenergization and the operation of the device is of the orderof 0.25 to 1 second depending upon the adjustment of the electromagneticdevice I35. Relay I24 is provided with two banks of contacts I38 and I39which are closed by a bridging member upon energizing of anelectromagnetic device I40.

Closure of a station switch I4I serves to connect the control circuit ofthe indicating means and timing device to the local source ofalternating current L1L2. Closing of the station switch I M also resultsin the energization of coil 54 of the self-starting synchronous motor5|, lighting of lamp 42 which illuminates the member 43 bearing the wordSold and energizing solenoid IOI which operates the resetting mechanismto reset the pointer to its starting position. The circuit forenergizing coil 54 comprises L1, station switch I4I conductor 55, coil54, conductor 58 and L2. The circuit for energizing lamp 42 comprisesL1, station switch I4I conductor 55, contact bank I32 of relay I23,conductor I42, lamp 42, conductor 53 and L2. The circuit for energizingsolenoid IIlI comprises Li, station switch I4I, conductor 55, contactbank I32 of relay I23, conductor I42, solenoid IOI, conductors I57, I53and 56 and L2. When coil 54 is energized the synchronous motor startsrotating but due to the fact that the brake 82 is in contact with thedriven clutch member 65, this latter member together with timer shaft 33and pointer 32 remain stationary resulting in slippage between thedriving clutch member 52 and the driven clutch member 65. With thecontrol system conditioned in the above described manner including thepointer positioned at its starting position I0 (shown in Figure 4) thesystem is in condition for operation by an impulse received over theelectrical network I 4.

When the character key corresponding to the comma is depressed in one ofthe subscriber stations, the type bar having mounted thereon the commacharacter in each of the printers in the various stations connected tothe network, including the printer in the transmitting station, will beselected and moved to form a character impression on the recording tape.As a result of the selection and movement of the type bar, contactor I20will be momentarily closed which will close a circuit to energizeelectromagnetic device I 28 of relay I 22 through a circuit comprisingL1, switch I4I, conductor 55, contactor I20, conductor I43,electromagnetic device I28, conductors I44 and 56 and L2. Closure ofthis circuit causes operation of electromagnetic device I28 to bridgemomentarily the contact banks I26 and I21. When contact bankl26isbridged, electromagnetic device I33 of relay I23 is energized by acircuit comprising L1, station switch I, conductors 55 and I45, contactbank I26, conductor I46, electromagnetic device I33, conductors I44 and56 and L2. Bridging of [contact bank I21 causes the single stroke gong44 to be sounded by completion of the circuit Ll, station switch I,conductors 55 and I45, contact bank I21, conductor I41, coil 45,conductor 56 and L2.

Energization of electromagnetic device I33 serves to close contact banksI29, I30 and I3I" and to open contact bank I32. Closing of contact bankI30 serves to energize a holding circuit for electromagnetic device I 33which comprises L1,

station switch I4I, conductor 55, contact bank I30, conductor I49, limitswitch 36, conductor I49, electromagnetic device I33, conductors I44 and56 and L2. Due to the closure of this circuit the electromagnetic deviceI 33 is maintained in, op'- synchronous motor I which is rotating asdescribed above will rotate pointer 32 in a clockwise direction asviewed from the front of panel 30. The circuit for energizing solenoid81 comprises L1, station switch I4I, conductor 55, contact bank I3I,conductor I5I, contact bank I31 of relay I25, conductor I52, solenoid81, conductors I53 and 56 and L2. Closing of the contact bank I3I ofrelay I23 also energizes the lamp 40 to effect illumination of the word.Bid" on the member 4| of the indicating. panel 30. The circuit forenergizing lamp 40 comprises L1, station switch I4I, conductor 55,contact bank I3I, conductor I50, lamp 40, conductor 56 and Le; Openingof contact bank I32 serves to deenergize the lamp 42 which illuminatesmember 43 upon which the term Sold appears and in addition serves todeenergize solenoid IOI of the resetting mechanism so that spring I09raises cam contacting roller 93 to the position shown in Figure 4. C-sure of contact bank 129 serves to place a source of potential acrossthe energizing circuit oi. the electromagnetic device I40 of relay I24.

From the above description, it is apparent that momentary closure ofcontactor I20 by operation of the teletypewriterprinting device resultsin (1) sounding of the gong 44, (2) energizing of relay I23 which inturn causes (3) lamp 42 to be extinguished, (4) causes lamp 40 to beenergized, (5) deenergizing solenoid IOI of the resetting mechanism, (6)completes holding circuit of relay I23, (7) causes operation of brake 82to permit rotation of pointer 32 and (8) conditions the energizingcircuit of relay I 24 in which contactor I2I is positioned.

Unless solenoid IOI of the pointer resetting mechanism is energized, thepointer will continue to rotate until the cam surface 39 on the limitswitch actuating bar 35 engages actuating stud 31 which serves to openthe contacts of limit switch 36. Opening of contacts H0 and III of thelimit switch serves to break the holding circuit for theelectromagneticdevice I33 which operates to open contact banks I29, I30and I3I and to close contact bank I32. Opening of contact (1 Oil bank'I3I serves to deenergize solenoid 81 thus permitting the brake 02 to beapplied to driven clutch member 65 which stops the rotation of thepointer 32. Closure of contact bank I32 energizes the circuit'oi lamp 42which causes the word Sold to'be illuminated and energizes solenoid IOIwhich causes the resetting mechanism to operate to return 'th'e'pointer32 to its starting position. Opening of contact bank I 3I serves also todeenergize lamp 40. With the system in this condition, contactor I20 canbe operated to initiate another cycle of operation.

If; prior to the time the limit switch actuating bar 35*opens the limitswitch, a character key corresponding to the period is depressed i oneof the selling stations, the type bar having mounted thereon the periodcharacter in ca'ch'of the printers in the various stations connected tothe network including the printer in the transmitting station, will beselected and moved to record a character impression on the tapeandcontactor I2 I will be momentarily closed. Upon the closing ofcontactorI 2I a circuit is completed to energize electromagnetic device I40otrelay .I24 which comprises L1, station switch I 4|, conductor55,"contactor I2I, conductor I 54, contact bank I29, conductor .I 55,electromagnetic device. I40, conductors I44 and 56 and L'zL- Uponenergization of electromagnetic device I40, contact banks I38 and I39are bridged which establish' circuits for energizing gong and relay I25.Thelcir'cuit for energizing the gong 44 thus completedcomprises L1,station switch I4I, conductorsfand I45, contact bank I39, conductor I41,coil 45, conductor 56 and L2. When contact bank I38 is closedelectromagnetic device I35 of relay I25 is energized by a circuitcomprisingLi, station switch I.4I, conductors 55 and'l45, contact ba'nk,l38, rectifier I34, conductors I44 and 56 to. 1.2;, The electromagneticdevice I35 is connected. across the direct current output terminals ofthe rectifier as shown in Figure 2. Energization. of electromagneticdevice I35 inthis mannerserves toclose contact'bank I 36- and opencontact bank I31 and thiscondition will exist for. a short duration .oftime after the momentary energizationof relay I24 due to-the time delaycharacteristic of the electromagnetic device I35, as has previously beendescribed. Opening of contact bank I31 serves to deenergize solenoid 81thus permitting the driven clutch member to bestopp d, by application ofthe brake 82. C10- sure oi contact bank I 36 serves to energize thesolenoid I 0I.of.the resetting mechanism which operates .to'return thepointer 32 to-the starting position. The circuit for energizing solenoidIOI comprises L1, station switch I4I,.conductor 55, contact bank I3I ofrelay I23, contact bank I36 of relay I 25, conductors I56 and I42,solenoid IOI, conductors I51, I 53 and 56 and L2. It will be understoodthat relay I25 remains in its operated position for a time intervalsufilcient to permit the brake to stop the rotation of the pointer andthe resetting mechanism to return the pointer tostarting position. Atthe termination .01 a predetermined time interval the deenergizdelectromagnetic device I35 permits .the bridging members to drop to thepositions indicated in Figure 2 which re-establish'es the circuit tothe, solenoid 81 which serves to release the brake 82 and permit thepointer to be rotated from its starting position by the synchronousmotor and, in addition, the opening of contact bank I36 serves todeenergize solenoid IOI oi the resetting mechanism. This cycle ofoperation will take place in all of the stations each time the type barbearing the period character is actuated, assuming, of course, that itis astuated prior to the time the limit switch 36 is opened by limitswitch actuating bar 35.

As above described, the selling control system and. selling machine ofthe present invention is particularly adapted for use in the auctionselling of perishable foodstuffs such as fruits or vegetables where thesellers and the competitive buyers are located at a plurality ofgeographically remote points. In this use of the selling control systemthe operation is as follows:

At the time of packing the fruit or vegetables. prior to their ofier forsale, a United States Government Inspector executesa United StatesGovernment inspection certificate which sets forth the quantity, kind,size, brand, standar d grade, condition, method of packing and any otherrequired information. In addition, the certificate sets forth the numberof therailroad car in which the fruit or vegetables have been loadedready'for despatch when sold, thus providing full identification of thepacked'fruit or vegetables. In this specification a railroad carloadisusedas a unit of sale but other units may be used where identificationis possible such as a truck with a legal registration number attached.

The information set forth on the United States Government inspectioncertificate is as soon as possible transmitted from the packing house,where the inspection has taken place and where the railroad car is stillstanding, to the nearest selling station on the electrical circuit wherethe selling machine is installed. .As the certificate information isrecorded on the teletypewriter machine in any selling station it isautomatically and simultaneously recorded on a similar teletypewritermachine in every selling station on the electrical circuit as all suchteletypewriter machines are linked together for simultaneous printing inthe usual manner. When the certificate information is so recorded inevery selling station it is immediately reproduced on a duplicatingmachinein every selling station to provide a copy for each of thewholesale buyers in the vicinity of each selling station. At the end ofeach day, or during the day as required, the wholesale buyers who areinvited to attend the sale are provided with a complete set of copies ofthe certificate information and which are to be the subiect of the salethe next business day. Each certificate copy has been given a lot numberand a summarized catalog of the whole is attached showing the lotnumbers and carload numbers to be sold. The information so suppliedenables the wholesale buyers to correctly estimate the value of eachseparate lot. The sale f each lot is completed on an F. O. B. basis.

At a given time the wholesale buyers assemble at the various sellingstations and the sale opens under the control of a sales controller atthe headquarters of the selling stations with a sales controller at eachseparate selling station.

The sales controller at headquarters causes to be sent out a signal onthe teletypewriter machine, which may be LLL, which signal is recordedon all the teletypewriter machines on the electrical circuit, and theoperators upon receipt of the signal close the station switch l4! and soenergize the motor 5|, light sources 24 and motor 2| (circuits for theselatter two elements not shown). Closure of switch I in each of theselling stations on the electrical network serves to illuminate the word"Sold-' and start the synchronous motor 5| and operate the resettingmechanism to reset the pointer to its starting position. Each of theselling machines is then conditioned for undertaking and facilitatingthe selling of the fruit or vegetables identified by the lot number andby the respective United States Government inspection certificate.

The lot number corresponding to the United States Government inspectioncertificate relating to a particular unit of fruit or vegetables to besold is transmitted on the instruction of the sales controller atheadquarters by the operator at headquarters printing the lot number onthe tap 18 from which tape the lot number is projected on the screen 3|of each selling machine at each of the selling stations on theelectrical network and in full view of the assembled wholesale buyers.

The lot number appears on the screen, for example, as Lot 1 whichindicates to each of the prospective buyers watching the sellingmachines in each of the sellin stations that the fruit'or vegetablesdescribed on the United States Government inspection certificate bearingthe notification Lot 1 is being offered for sale. The operator at theheadquarter selling station then transmits a comma character whichcauses the contactors I20 in each of the selling machines in each of theselling stations, on the electrical circuit to momentarily closeresulting in the sounding of the gong, extinguishing of the light 42resulting in the disappearance of the word Sold and the illumination ofthe word Bid and th starting of the pointer 32 from its initialposition. During the rotation of the pointer 32 the selling machine isin readiness to receive bids at any selling station in respect to Lot 1.The selling station I I, for example, may be in Chicago and if a buyerlocated at that station makes a bid of $2.00 per box for the fruitdescribed in the United States Government inspection certificatecorresponding to Lot 1, the bid is transmitted by the operator of theteletyp Writer machin in the Chicago selling station by striking thecharacters 0 2.00 which indicates that a Chicago buyer has bid $2.00 perbox for the contents of the carload. In addition, the characters C 2.00are projected from the tape on to the screen in the manner previouslydescribed and the characters appear on the screen of every sellingmachine on the electrical circuit so that the buyers assembled in allthe selling stations are aware of the existence of the bid. As the bidis recorded on each of the selling machines and as the teletypewriter isprinting the period in each of the selling stations including thetransmitting station, as previously set forth, the closure of the switch[2! causes the pointer 32 to be reset to its starting point from whichit immediately starts to rotate clockwise around the dial. If a buyer atany one or" the selling stations desire to make a higher bid he must doso before the pointer reaches a predetermined point on the dial, forexample the Figure 8 representing a period of eight seconds after theprevious bid has been made. Therefore, if a buyer at, for example,Washington, desires to make a bid of $2.10 and it is accepted by thecontroller, the operator at the Washington Sellin Station transmit thecharacters W 2.10 which are in turn recorded simultaneously at all theselling stations on the electrical circuit as was the previous bid.Again the switch 12! at each of the selling stations is operatedautomatically to reset the pointer 32 of the time indicator and anotherperiod is initiated for the receivin of c higher bid. Consecutlvelyhigher bids are invited and may be made at any one of the sellingstations on the electrical circuit and are in turn simultaneouslytransmitted to all of the selling stations as described.

The dial pointer 32 of the indicator which is driven at a constant speedby the synchronous motor of the timing device shows the time that haselapsed since the last bid shown on the screen 3| has been received. Ifno new bid is received at any selling station within a predeterminedtime, as for example eight seconds after which the pointer 32 reachesthe numeral 8 on the dial 34, the limit switch actuating bar 35 willoperate to open the limit switch 36 at each of the selling stations. Therelay [23 will then be deenergized which in turn causes the word Sold tobe illuminated by light 42, the lamp 46 will be extinguished and so theword Bid will disappear and the pointer 32 will return to its startingpoint by the resetting mechanism in readiness for the next sellinoperation and the offering of Lot 2.

As a result of the above operation, the highest bidder recorded on theselling machine in the manner described becomes the owner of Lot 1.

All lots represented by the United State Government inspectioncertificates and the catalog are offered for sale in the same manner asLot 1, in numerical order of lot numbers, and when all sales have beencompleted the selling station switches l4| will be opened at the requestof the headquarters sales controller until the time arrives for theholding of another sale.

While the United States Government inspec tion certificate has beenmentioned as the basis of the material description of the fruits andvegetables offered for sale, it is contemplated that a reliablecertificate acceptable to the producers, shippers and buyers will beused if desired.

All the limit switch actuating arms in the various selling machines areadjusted to open the limit switches at the same point of angularrotation of the pointer 32 and the coil 54 of the synchronous motor ineach of the selling machines-is energized from an alternating currentsource of the same frequency. In addition, the time delay in theoperation of relay I25 is adjusted to be the same in each of the sellinchines. Thus the limit switches in all of the selling machines willoperate at the same time to indicate that the lot up for salehas beensold to the last bidder whose bid and station designation appears on thescreen 3| and to terminate the sale for the particular lot.

The operation of a transmitter at one of the selling stations on theelectrical network will be apparent by the projected images upon thescreen and by the operation of the printer and the movement of the tapeat each of the selling stations. If a more positive control of thetransmitting devices is desired in order to prevent the operation of twotransmitters at one time, it is contemplated that any suitable means maybe employed to lock the keyboards in all but onestation when thatselling station is transmitting, or signal lights or thelike may be usedto indicate that the transmitting device of one of the selling stations.on the electrical network is in use. Such means are known topersonsskilled in the art and are not described in detail herein. Theattendance of sales controllers in all the selling stationswiil alsosupervise the bidding and if there should be two or more bids at any oneselling station during the ofiering of a lot and at approximately.thesame time, it will be the duty of the sales controller 'to decidewhich bid is to be accepted in accordance with the usual rules ofselling by auction. Furthermore, it is contemplated that other visualindicating means, such for example as a teleregister mechanism whereinrotating elements having characters thereon are moved behind an aperturein a panel to correspond with the characters operated on the printer,could be employed in place of the projection device described above andother forms of tape moving mechanism could be used in place of themechanism disclosed without exceeding the scope of this invention.

This application is directed to improvements of the communication andsignal system disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 223,761,filed August 8, 1938, which issued as U. S. Letters Patent 2,266,826 onDecember 23; 1941.

Having thus described the invention with particularit with regard to itspreferred forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, afterunderstanding the invention, that various other changes'andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and it is desired in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as-are within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a selling control system of the character described forfacilitating the sale of produce or the like by competitive bidding froma plurality of remotely located stations, an electrical network havingconnected thereto a plurality of stations each of which is provided witha transmitting unit and a receiving unit, said receiving units operableto receive simultaneously bids transmitted over said network andoriginating from a transmitting unit located at any of said stations,meanslat each station for indicating the successive bids transmittedover said network and received by said receiving unit at said eachstation, means at each station actuated in response to the operation ofsaid receiving unit to indicate the time interval between successive bidtransmissions and means at each station actuated in response to theoperation of said receiving unit for operating visual indicating meansafter a predetermined time following the transmission of a bid if otherbids are not received within said predetermined time to indicatetermination of bidding.

2. In a selling control system of the character described forfacilitating the sale of produce or the like by competitive bidding froma plurality of remotely located stations, an electrical network to whichare connected a plurality of stations each of which is provided with atransmitting unit, a receiving unit and an indicating means comprising arotatable element, means for rotating said rotatable element andresetting means for returning said rotatable element to a predeterminedposition, means for simultaneously initiating rotation of said rotatableelement at each of said stations in response to reception of apreselected group of one or more impulses, and means for simultaneouslyactuating the resetting means at each of said stations in response toreception of a difierent preselected group of one or more impulses.

3. In a selling control system of the character described forfacilitating the sale of produce or the like by competitive bidding froma plurality of remotely located stations, an electrical network to whichare connected a plurality of sta tions each of which is provided with atransmitting unit, a receiving unit and an indicating means comprising arotatable element, means for rotating said element and a resettingmechanism for returning said rotatable element to a predeterminedposition, means associated with the re ceiving unit at each of thestations for simultaneously initiating operation of said rotatableelement by said element rotating means at each station in response toreception of a preselected group of one or more impulses, and meansoperable during a predetermined time of travel of the rotating elementand controlled by a second means associated with the receiving unit ateach of the stations actuated in response to reception of a differentpreselected group of one or more impulses for simultaneously actuatingsaid resetting mechanism at each of the stations to return saidrotatable element to a predetermined position.

4. In a selling control system of the character described forfacilitating the sale of produce or the like by competitive bidding froma plurality of remotely located stations, an electrical network to whichare connected a plurality of stations each of which is provided with atransmitting unit, a receiving unit and an indicating means comprisinga. rotatable element, means for rotating said element and a resettingmechanism for returning said rotatable element to a predeterminedposition, means associated with the receiving unit at each of thestations for simultaneously initiating operation or said rotatableelement by said element rotating means at each station in response toreception or a preselected group of one or more impulses, means operableduring a predetermined time of travel of the rotating element andcontrolled by a second means associated with the receiving unit at eachof the stations actuated in response to reception of a differentpreselected group of one or more impulses for simultaneously actuatingsaid resetting mechanism at each of the stations to return saidrotatable element to a predetermined position and control means at eachstation operated by said element rotating means for eiiecting actuationof said resetting mechanism after the rotatable element has been rotatedfor a predetermined period of time.

5. In a selling control system of the character described in which aplurality of subscriber stations are interconnected by an electricalnetwork and in which a transmitting device and a receiving device havingat least two movable elements operable in response to predeterminesimpulses received over the network are provided at each station, thecombination of an indicating means comprising a rotatable element, meanscontrolled by one of said movable elements for initiating rotation ofsaid rotatable element, means for resetting the rotatable element to apredetermined position and means controlled by another of said movableelements for actuating said resetting means to reset the rotatableelement to saidpredetermined position.

6. In a selling control system of the character described in which aplurality of subscriber stations are interconnected by an electricalnetwork and in which a transmitting device and a receiving device havingat least two movable elements operable in response to predeterminedimpulses received over the network are provided at each station, thecombination of an indicating means comprising a rotatable element, meansfor rotating said rotatable element, braking means for controlling therotation of said rotatable element, means for resetting the rotatableelement to a predetermined position, means controlled by one of themovable elements of said receiving device for actuating the brakingmeans to permit the rotatable element to be rotated by said rotatingmeans and means controlled by another of said movable elements of thereceiving device for actuating the brake means to stop rotation of saidrotatable element and for actuating the resetting means to reset saidrotatable element to said predetermined position.

7. In a selling control system of the character described in which aplurality of subscriber stations are interconnected by an electricalnetwork and in which a transmitting device and a receiving device havingat least two movable elements operable in response to predeterminedimpulses received over the network are provided at each station, thecombination of an indicating means comprising a rotatable element, meansfor rotating said element, a resetting mechanism for returning saidrotatable element to a predetermined position, means controlled by oneof the movable elements of said receiving device for initiating rotationof said element, means operable during a predetermined distance oftravel of said rotatable element and controlled by another of saidmovable elements of the receiving device for actuating said resettingmechanism and control means operated by said element rotating means foreffecting actuation of said resetting mechanism after the rotatableelement has been rotated to a predetermined position.

8. In a selling control system of the character described in which aplurality of subscriber stations are interconnected by an electricalnetwork and in which a transmitting device and a receiving device havingat least two movable elements operable in response to predeterminedimpulses received over the network are provided at each station, thecombination of an indicating means comprising a rotatable element, meansfor rotating said element, a light source, a sound device, meanscontrolled by one of said movable elements of said receiving device forinitiating rotation of said rotatable element and for energizing saidlight source and momentarily energizing said sound device, a resettingmechanism for returning said rotatable element to a predeterminedposition, means operable during a predetermined distance of travel ofsaid rotatable element actuated by another of said movable elements ofthe receiving device for energizing said sound device and actuating theresetting mechanism to return the rotatable element to saidpredetermined position.

9. In a selling control system of the character described in which aplurality of subscriber stations are interconnected by an electricalnetwork and in which a transmitting device and a receiving device havingat least two movable elements operable in response to predeterminedimpulses received over the network are provided at each station, thecombination of an indicating means comprising a rotatable element, meansfor rotating said element, a light source, a sound device, meanscontrolled by one of said movable elements of said receiving device forinitiating rotation of said element and for energizing said light sourceand for momentarily energizing said sound device. a resetting mechanismfor returning said rotatable element to a predetermined position, asecond light source, means operable during a predetermined distance oftravel of said rotatable element actuated by another of said movableelements of the receiving device for energizing said sound device andeffecting actuation of the resetting mechanism to return the rotatableelement to said predetermined position and means operable upon saidrotatable element reaching said predetermined distance of travel fordeenergizing said first light source, energizing said second lightsource and said sound device and actuating said resetting mechanism.

10. A timing device comprising a first shaft, a pointer and cam mountedupon said shaft, a second shaft, a driving connection between said firstand second shafts comprising a clutch, a third shaft, a drivingconnection between said second and third shafts comprising a drivenclutch member mounted upon said second shaft, a driving motor forrotating said third shaft, releasable brake means for said driven clutchmember and actuating means for moving said cam to rotate the pointer toa predetermined position.

11. In a selling machine of the character de scribed, a printing devicehaving at least two movable control elements, a time indicating devicehaving a rotatable element, a resetting mechanism for returning saidrotatable element to a starting position, means actuated by one of themovable control elements of said printing device for initiating rotationof said rotatable element, means controlled by another of said movablecontrol elements of said printing device for operating said resettingmechanism and means operable by said time indicating device upon apredetermined rotation of said rotatable element for rendering saidprinting device ineffective to control said second means.

12. In a selling control system of the character described forfacilitating the sale of produce or the like by competitive bidding fromeach of a plurality of remotely located stations, means for transmittinga bid originating at any one station to each of the stations, means ateach of the stations for receiving and indicating the receipt of a bidtransmitted from any station, means at each station to indicate the timeinterval between successive bid'transmissions and means at each stationfor operating indicating means after a predetermined time intervalfollowing the transmission of a bid if another bid is not receivedwithin the predetermined time interval.

13. A timer device comprising a shaft including a plurality of axiallyaligned sections, a pointer mounted upon one of said sections, a motorfor driving said section upon which said pointer is mounted, frictionmeans disposed intermediate the motor and said section upon which thepointer is mounted, and electromagnetically actuated means forindependently controlling rotation of the shaft sections.

14. In a selling control system for facilitating the sale of produce orthe like by competitive bidding from a plurality of remotely locatedstations, the combination of a plurality of stations each of which isprovided with a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and an indicatingmeans comprising a rotatable element, means for operating the receivingunit at all of said stations in response to the operation of thetransmission unit at any one of said stations, means for rotating saidrotatable element and resetting means for returning said rotatableelement to a predetermined position, means for simultaneously initiatingthe rotation of said rotatable element at each of said stations inresponse to the reception of an impulse of a predetermined character,and means for simultaneously actuating the resetting means at each ofsaid stations in response to the reception of an impulse of a differentpredetermined character.

HARRY H. STOCKFELD.

